Enrollment at the University of Nebraska increased by 2.7 percent this fall, the third year in a row student numbers have gone up. A total of 47,058 students are attending the university in the 2007-08 school year – the highest total enrollment since 1996 - with significant increases in first-time freshmen and graduate students.

University-wide, enrollment is up in every category of students.

First-time freshmen: 6,911 students (5.1 percent increase)

Undergraduate students: 35,395 (2.2 percent increase)

Graduate students: 9,182 (4.5 percent increase)

Professional students: 2,154 (2 percent increase)

Total enrollment: 47,058 students (2.7 percent increase)

"This fall's enrollment is a very good story, with each of our campuses showing increases," NU President James B. Milliken said. "Among our key strategic objectives are increasing the college-going rate in Nebraska and increasing enrollment at the University. I am very pleased that the positive enrollment trend is continuing for a third year in a row."

Significant successes were noted in freshmen students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduate students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and continued success at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Enrollment at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) in Curtis increased by 20 percent, from 272 to 327 students.

Enrollment on each of the four campuses increased:

University of Nebraska-Lincoln: 22,973 (3.9 percent increase)

University of Nebraska at Omaha: 14,156 (1.8 percent increase)

University of Nebraska at Kearney: 6,478 (0.2 percent increase)

University of Nebraska Medical Center: 3,124 (1.9 percent increase)

Milliken attributed the university's enrollment successes to hard work on all the campuses to boost enrollment and the excellent reputation of the university. He pointed out that the university has been making efforts to recruit more in-state and out-of-state students, retain students through graduation, keep more of our highest academic achieving students in the state, maintain moderate and predictable tuition increases, and boost financial aid. "Each of these elements contributes to our success with enrollment," Milliken said.

He pointed out that this year's enrollment increase clearly exceeds the enrollment goal of 1.5 percent established by the Board of Regents in the University's strategic plan.

But Milliken added that Nebraska continues to face challenges in increasing the state's college-going rate, a goal set by Governor Heineman and embraced by the University. Nebraska enjoys a high school graduation rate of 84 percent, but only 27 percent of the state's residents have a bachelor's degree or higher.

"Across the country, there is a broad consensus among business and political leaders that in the 21st century, education is the most critical factor in the ability of an individual, a region or a nation to be successful and economically competitive," Milliken said. "Nebraska's next generation of business leaders, teachers, doctors and entrepreneurs are in our school systems now, and we must give them every opportunity to succeed."

Initial enrollment numbers are based on a count on the sixth day of fall semester. More detailed numbers are reported later in the fall.